THE SPOILED HYBRID.🧛 (MXM) - Chapter 2: Chapter 2

Did you talk to him today?” Alysa asked, already knowing the answer before her brother even opened his mouth. She leaned back in her chair, her long legs crossed elegantly, a glass of crimson liquid balanced delicately in her hand. The dim light of their small apartment caught the edge of the glass, casting a faint red glow across her sharp features. Her eyes, a piercing amber that contrasted with Alessia’s soft green, studied him with a mix of sympathy and frustration.
Alessia sat slumped on the couch, his small frame almost swallowed by the oversized cushions. He shook his head, his black hair falling into his eyes as he stared down at his hands. “No, I didn’t,” he murmured, his voice barely above a whisper. “I… I feared what if he rejects me? Remember, we’re vampires. To them, we’re just myths. Stories. What if he thinks I’m crazy? Or worse, what if he’s terrified of me?”
Alysa sighed, swirling the liquid in her glass before taking a slow sip. The rich, metallic scent of blood filled the air, a reminder of their true nature. She set the glass down with a soft *clink* and leaned forward, her gaze softening as she looked at her younger brother. “Try flirting with him,” she suggested, her tone light but firm. “You’re overcomplicating this. Just talk to him. Smile. Be yourself. You’re cute, Alessia. Adorable, even. And you’re intelligent. No boy in their right mind would reject you.”
Alessia’s cheeks flushed at the compliment, but he shook his head again, his hands gripping the edge of the couch cushion tightly. “I can’t do that,” he said, his voice trembling. “He has a girlfriend already. Jamie. She’s… she’s perfect for him. They look so happy together. I can’t just—” His voice broke, and he quickly looked away, his green eyes glistening with unshed tears.
Alysa’s expression softened further, and she moved to sit beside him, placing a comforting hand on his shoulder. She could feel the tension in his small frame, the way his body seemed to curl in on itself as if trying to disappear. “Alessia,” she said gently, “you can’t keep torturing yourself like this. You love everything about Drake—his smile, his laugh, the way he carries himself. But you’re letting your fear hold you back. You deserve to be happy too.”
Alessia swallowed hard, his throat tight with emotion. “I just… I want to be the one holding his hand,” he admitted, his voice barely audible. “Not Jamie. Not some other girl. Me. But how can I compete with her? She’s everything I’m not. Confident. Beautiful. Human.”
Alysa sighed again, her grip on his shoulder tightening slightly. “You’re not giving yourself enough credit,” she said. “You’re more than just a vampire-wolf hybrid, Alessia. You’re kind, thoughtful, and yes, adorable. And if Drake can’t see that, then he doesn’t deserve you.”
But even as she spoke the words, Alysa knew it wasn’t that simple. The bond between mates was powerful, almost impossible to ignore. She could see the way Alessia’s eyes lit up whenever Drake was near, the way his entire being seemed to gravitate toward him. It was more than just attraction—it was destiny. And yet, destiny didn’t always play fair.
Alessia wiped at his eyes with the back of his hand, trying to hide the tears that threatened to fall. “I just don’t know what to do,” he whispered. “I feel so… lost.”
Alysa pulled him into a hug, her arms wrapping around his slender frame. “You’ll figure it out,” she said softly. “And I’ll be here to help you, no matter what. But you have to take the first step, Alessia. You can’t keep hiding in the shadows.”
As Alessia leaned into his sister’s embrace, he couldn’t help but wonder if she was right. But the thought of facing Drake, of risking rejection, was almost too much to bear. For now, he let himself be comforted by Alysa’s presence, the weight of his unspoken fears pressing heavily on his heart.
“Let me help you, then,” Alysa said, a sly smile curling at the edges of her lips. Her amber eyes glinted with mischief, the kind of look that always made Alessia’s stomach twist with unease. She leaned back in her chair, her long legs stretched out lazily, as if the idea of “helping” was nothing more than a game to her. The faint scent of her blood-infused drink lingered in the air, a metallic reminder of their shared nature.
Alessia instantly shook his head, his black hair swaying with the motion. “No,” he said firmly, his voice carrying a rare edge of determination. He knew all too well how chaotic his sister could be. Her version of “help” always ended with someone getting hurt—emotionally, if not physically. He still remembered the fallout from the last time Alysa had intervened in a mate situation.
It had been her own mate, back when they lived in their old town. Alysa had discovered that her mate was already in a relationship, and instead of stepping back or trying to win him over naturally, she had orchestrated a plan so devious it still made Alessia shudder. She had framed the girl, planting lies and manipulating situations until the couple had a massive, very public argument. The girl’s family had even relocated afterward, unable to handle the fallout from Alysa’s threats and manipulations. The whole ordeal had left a bitter taste in Alessia’s mouth, a reminder of how far his sister was willing to go to get what she wanted.
“I’ll talk to him, okay?” Alessia said hurriedly, his voice rising slightly in desperation. He couldn’t let Alysa anywhere near Drake. The thought of her scheming, of her sharp tongue and sharper tactics being turned on Jamie—or worse, on Drake himself—was enough to make his chest tighten with anxiety. “If he doesn’t… if he doesn’t respond well, then you can help. But for now, leave it to me.”
Alysa raised an eyebrow, her smirk widening as she studied her younger brother. “Oh?” she said, her tone dripping with amusement. “And what exactly are you going to do, little brother? Write him a poem? Stare at him from across the room until he notices you? You’ve been pining for weeks, and he hasn’t even looked your way.”
Alessia flinched at her words, his cheeks flushing with embarrassment. He hated how easily Alysa could cut through his defenses, how she always seemed to know exactly what to say to make him feel small. But this time, he held his ground. “I’ll figure it out,” he said, his voice steadier than he felt. “I just… I need to do this my way. Please, Alysa. Promise me you won’t interfere.”
Alysa tilted her head, her expression unreadable for a moment. Then she shrugged, leaning back in her chair with a casual wave of her hand. “Fine,” she said, though the glint in her eyes suggested she wasn’t entirely convinced. “But don’t take too long, Alessia. Destiny doesn’t wait forever, you know.”
Alessia nodded, though his stomach churned with doubt. He knew Alysa was right about one thing—he couldn’t keep hiding in the shadows, hoping Drake would notice him. But the thought of actually approaching him, of risking rejection—or worse, exposing his true nature—was terrifying. Still, he had to try. For once, he had to be brave.
As Alysa sipped her drink, her gaze lingering on him with a mix of amusement and curiosity, Alessia made a silent vow. He would talk to Drake. He would find a way to make him see that they were meant to be together. And if he failed… well, he didn’t want to think about what Alysa might do next.